Ironing-board structure



June 17, 1930.

s. MADSEN IRONING BOARD STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1928 rm M k 4 ma w 1 u w w 8 I r w f N w 3 c M 4% 6 W 1 the type that is designed'tojfold up Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES SERN MADsEN, or oninii oivj IOWA, ASSIGNOR T0 oiin'ris COMPAN'IES,

- or" CLINTON, IOWA I PATENT series INCORPORATED,

mourns-Boner srniio'runn Application filed December 31, 1928. Serial No. 329,609.

My present invention relates to an ironing board structure. g I

The object of my invention is to prov de an ironing board structure including a boarpl of 111 0 a wall case when not-in use.v I I More particularly, it is my purpose provide a combination structure in which an ironing board may be folded into a case, which is close to the floor, so as to permit the board to be installed'where head room is limited. V

Another purpose of my invention s to provide such a structure which can be installed in a wall betweenstudding of standard spacing p I g A further object .lStO provide a structure including a case member which may be hung as a door of a closet or cabinet and may also serve as an adjustable support tor the ironin board. g l V Still another object is to provide n such a structure an ironing board readily and quickly adjustableto' proper heightby the same manipulation which sets the ironing board in position for use.

An additional purpose is to provide suitable means for locking the board in ironing position, so that it can not accidentally fall down.

Still another purpose 18 to provide such a structure that the ironing board support also serves as a door and thus eliminatesthe necessity for other hinged doors, which might otherwise take up wall space or nterfere with the use of the board. I

Anotherpurpose is to provide in the con hination an adjustable sleeve board which is readily demountable. r

Finally, it is my purpose to provide such a structurehaving partsso constructed and arranged as to afford a rig d support for the ironing board when in use, and wh ch is yet easily and conveniently handled and adjusted. 1 Y

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of my ironing board structure, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an iron ing board structure embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional View through the upper portion --of the same and throughpart of the ironing board when the latter is lowered to Working position.

Figure 3 1s a perspective View of the structureinstalled in a wall.

F gures 4:, 5 and 6 are side elevations illustrating the ironing board structure in differthe ironing board when in position for work,

parts being broken away and parts being shown in section to illustrate the locking device; and I Y Figure 10 is a detail, longitudinal sectional.

.view through the inner part of the ironing g u I u L board illustrating the locking device.

It may be mentioned that my improved structure may be built as a unit in the factory so that it can be s'hippedand installed as a unit.

In the drawings herewith, I have shown a case, which has the panel 10 forming a back member, the forwardly "extending shallow side jambs or walls 11, the head jamb or wall 12 and the bottom jamb or wall 13.

The face of the case is trimmed with casing 14.

The inner faces of the side jainbs 11 iii the lower *parts thereof are provided with grooves 16 in which are inset metal channels 18. Near the upper portion of each channel 18, the bottom of that channel and the jamb beyond itare provided with a series of vertiparts from Lil cally spaced holes to receive the locking bolts hereinafter referred to.

Secured. to the inner faces of the side jambs 11 at the tops thereof near their front edges are wear plates 22 shown in Figure 2. Holes extend through the wear plates 22'and into the j'ambs 11.

In the inner faces of the jambs l1 spaced 'rearwardly from the holes 24 are holes 26 (see Figure l) to receive the locking boltsof provided at what is its lower end when the parts are folded up into the case with a locking deviceand the door member 30 is provided with a locking device, which is similar, except for the springs to be hereafter mentioned. I

I shall now describe this locking device. For convenience, it may he said that in referring to the upper and lower partsof the various elements, I am referringt'o them when in their closed positionas shown in Figure 3.

In the lower end of the ironingboard 36, there is cut clear across the board a groove 40, which is partially filled by a spline 42 glued into the groove, so as toleavea trans verse opening 4 across the board. V (See Figures 2, 9 and 10.) I 1 A hole is cut through the heard as at 46 to bisect the passage 44. The ends of the hole 46 are closed by discs A and I) which rotate freely in the holes.

The disc B comprises a disc-like sheet of metal e8 rigidly secured to a second discshaped piece of metal 50 havingthe annular iii-turned flange 52 received in the hole Q6.

The disc A consists of a disc-like sheet of metal 54: having an out-turned annularfiange 56 received in the hole 46 and a disc member 58 of greater diameter, having a central cupped portion 58 securedto the portion 54.

A key 60 has two legs 62 extending through the discs A and-B and receiving the'lock nuts 64. The legs 62 extendrespectively through the offset ends 66 and 68' of locking bolts or rods 70 and 72 slidably received in the passage 1% and projecting through plates Tl and 76 secured to the side edges of the iron ing. board 36.

Thus it will be seen that by rotating the key 60, the locking bolts 70 and 72 may be si nultaneously projected or withdrawn.

For normally yieldingly holding'the parts in their position with the locking bolts projecting, I provide a spring 7 8, such as that shown for instance in Figure ,9.

When the ironing board is in its folded up position, the-outer ends of the bolts 70 and 7 2 project into the channels 18, in which these bolts may slide up and down.

In the upper end [of the door member 30 is mounted a locking device, which is similar, except that in some instances, the spring 7 8 is omitted. The lockingbol'ts' o'fthislatter locking device coact with the holes 2 1; (Figure 2) for locking the doors in their case closing position.

Secured to the side jambs 11 rearwardly from the channels 18'are upright members 80, each having a series-of notches 82. When it is desired to move the parts ,fi'onrthei-r positions shown in Figure 3 to position where the ironing board is ready for use" as shown in Figure 1, the operator manipulates the locking device at the upper end of thedoor member 30, which for convenience ofref'crence is indicated by the reference numeral C for withdrawing the bolts of such locking device from the holes 24. I I

The two door members and the ironing board are then swung on the lower locking bolts 70 and 72 .as pivots downwardly and outwardly to theposition shown in Figure-4.

The door member 30' is then swung clownwardly away from the ironing board to'the position shown for instance in Figure 5 until it rests on the floor. Then the lower end of the ironing board is slid upwardly from its position shown in Figure 5* to its position shown in Figure 6 movement, the lower locking bolts 7 O and 72 slide in the channels 18. v

The spring 78 tends to yieldingly force the bolts outwardly to thus keep them projected into the channels 18 and to cause them to enter the lower holes 20. Itwil-l be, understood, of course, thatthe key 6Q may be manipulated for controlling the bolts for causing them to enter the holes 20. at any desired height.- After. the bolts havebeen projected into-the holes 20, the spring'78 prevents any accidental IGHIOVtLlOf the bolts from the holes.

Itwill be'noted that the spline-42m cut away for a portion of its length adjacent to 'the passage 44' as at l2 on one side of the hole 4:6, whereas the material oftliebo'ard itself is cut away along the passage 44 on the other side of the hole 46 as indicatedat-36.

During such sliding vllU - other direction is limited by engagement of the bolts 70 and 7 2 with the walls of the passage 44. When the bolts are thus extended a :case when the-device is folded up serve: to

and are received in the proper holes the door, member 32 is then swung toward the case and its lower edge is inserted into an opposite pair of notches 82 (see Figures 1 and 8). 1

It will be seen that this operation requires that the locking bolts in the door member be withdrawn while the door member 30 is being adjusted to the proper notches 82. The locking bolts are then projected into the channel 18. When this is done, the door member 30 will be rigidly locked in its position shown in Figures 1 and 8, and the ironing board will be rigidly held for use.

The operations necessary for returning the ironing board and the door members to the position shown in Figure 3 will be obvious.-

I preferably provide a detachable or demountable sleeve board for use with my ironing board construction. This consists of a sleeve board proper 84. One end of this sleeve board has a frame consisting of the transverse member86 extending across the end of the board to the opposite side jambs 11,

and is provided with the portions 88 extend ing at right angles to it, as shown in Figure 1. From the portions 88, frame members or portions are inclined to the side edges of the board 84 and secured thereto as at 92.

The sleeve board 84 has a locking device 1) similar to the first locking device hereinbefore described.

The locking bolts 70 and 72 of the locking device D project away from the board 84 and through the frame portions 88 as shown in Figure 1.

By letting these last-named locking bolts 70 and 72 project into the holes 26 (Figurel), the sleeve board may be hung as shown in Figure 2.

Secured to the sleeve board 84 spaced from the ends thereof by pivotal connections are th arms 94 of a supporting bail 96.

\Vhen it is desired to use the sleeve board I,

with the ironing board, the locking device D i manipulated to withdraw its locking bolts from the holes 26, and these locking bolts are then selectively inserted into the desired holes 28 (Figure 2). The bail 96 is dropped to rest on the ironing board 36 as shown in Figure 1, and the sleeve board is ready for use.

An ironing board structure of the kind referred to herein has a large number of advantages, some of which will be readily inferred from the statement of the objects and the description of the device.

It will be seen that an ironing board structure'of this kind can'be manufactured and then shipped and installed as a unit between studding in a wall, and willhave the appear- There are no,

ance of a closet or cabinet. parts which project into theroom when the ironing board isfolded up. I

The door members which serve to close the strengthen and support the ironing board when it ,isin position-for use.- They eliminate the necessity for having hinged doors on the case, Which might be in the way for ironing operations or interfere withthe use of the room when the lroning board is up.- V An-lromng board of satisfactory length can be employed because the case stands oloserto the floor, and can be put in any room of or dinary height. The ironing board is quickly and easily adjusted to any of its'various positions and is rigidly supported in its position for use.

In making such adjustment, there is a considerable advantage in having the lower end of the ironing boardtrunnioned in such'manner that it travels freely in the grooves in the j ambs and in providing trunnioning means,

which-will serve as locking means for holding this lower end of the board in itsfraised position; The board might be held and supported in the position shown in Figure g6,if

it were desired for-any reason toileave it so. It1s preferable, however, to arrange the member 32 as shown in Figure 1,-thus leaving the space under the board as'nearly free as possible and locking the member 32 against accidental displacement. The whole casing and lronlng-board structure herein shown may .be arranged to serve as a broom case, if that is desired.

It willbe of course understood that sdnie, i;

changes may be made in thedetailsof the construction andarrangement of the parts of my improved ironing board structure without departing" from the spirit'and purposeof my invention', and it is my intention;to cover L; by my claims, any modified formsofstruc- .t'ure or use of mechanical equivalents which be reasonably included within the spirit .of my invention and the scope of my claims.

.Iclaim as my invention: v

1. In a structure of the class described, an ironing board, a lockingdevice therefor comprisingopposite bolts slidably supported at their outer ends only in the ironing board, a

key for sliding said bolts simultaneously endwise said key being rotatably supported on said board and including a pair of legs off center of the key, said legs being pivoted to the inner end of said bolts.

2. A retractible bolt construction compris-' ing, rotatable discs mounted in the ends of an opening through a board and on opposite sides of the board, a key having legs projecting through said discs, and locking bolts slidably mounted in a passage through the led lio

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boardand havingtheir inner ends pivoted to said legs; and a spring in 's'aid openingfw acting-with sa'idbolts for normally holding them projected;

3. I For use With a board member'h'aving a hole through it and having aligned passages projecting at right angles from said hole, locking bolts received in said passages and having offset ends in said h'ole and a' key rotatably mounted on'said' board having legs projected through said hole and pivoted i to said ofiset ends,

' 4. For use with a boardmembei havi'ng a hole through it'and having aligned passages i proj ecting at right angles from said hole looking bolts received in-said passagesand'having ofl'set ends insaid hole, a key rotatably mounted on said board having legs projected through said hole andpivoted to said offset ends and a spring element having its end secured to the board and having spiral portions integrally connected by a middle member extended around said legs. 5. A retractible bolt construction comprising a pair of disks adapted to lie against opposits sides of a board having a hole there- 'thru, said disks having portions extending into the hole and fitting" the interior surface thereof so that the disksare positioned and rotatably mountedlrelati've to the hole; a key having legs extending'ofl. center thru said disks means on the key 'to retain the disks against the board, bolts having their inner ends pivoted to said legs, means for slid-ably supporting said bolts adjacent their outer ends, the board having passageways intermediate the legs of the key and said means for slidably supporting the bolts, said" passageways being substantially largerin cross seetion'than the cross sectional area of said bolts and means within said hole toretain said bolts in extended position, said" last means comprising a double-spiral spring having ends embedded in the board at the-periph- V eryof the hole therein and an intermediate portion extending aro'un'dthe legs of said key. 1 6; A retractible bolt"constructioncomprising a pair'o'f disks adapted" to lie against opposit'e" sides of a board having a-ho'le there"- thru, a keyhaving' legs extending 'ofi'center thru said disks, bolts having theiri'nner ends pivoted to" said 'legs,means forsli'dab'ly' supporting said bolts adjacent thei'r'outer' ends,

and means Within said hole to retain said belts in extended position.

7 sERN MADsEN; 

